This is a response to a comment on Ben Nadel's Blog http://www.bennadel.com/index.cfm?dax=blog:580.view

" Just read this post, I have to say that as a developer I have real issues with all of my IDEs. I started coding HTML using Notepad back in the dark ages (early 90s) since then I think I've used just about every code editor around. Most recently having started with Eclipse. The only thing I can say for sure is that, IMHO, they all suck! Dreamweaver is like a Humvee stuck in mud, Eclipse is java and buggy, homesite doesn't support the features I need (like decent inline CSS support). They have all cost me lost hours because they wiped code during a crash or, in the case of eclipse, deleted an entire new project that was not yet on the backups. Sorry to rant on your blog Ben but I just wish either Adobe could sort dreamweaver out or someone could make eclipse as good in terms of FTP support etc. Maybe I should just bin all this new fangled kit and use CF Studio again. I still resort to that in times of dire need! Why couldn't macromedia have kept developing CFstudio instead of trying to force us into using sub-standard dreamweaver? "

*They all suck*????

Interesting....I guess there is no pleasing some people, no matter what.

The tools you mentioned are all excellent in their own way. None of them are *end alls* by themselves. But together they are a fantastic tool kit. I have all but abandoned CF studio for eclipse. Eclipse is amazing but it does have some serious short comings. Namely the edit tag function. I like to see all my options for a tag all at once, either as properties or as a tag edit dialog. You can ADD a tag to code using a dialog but you cannot edit it. The lack of an HTML dictionary is a bummer to. Also the A href="" ... does not have code completion... etc... (which is why I usually have CF studio open as well) but besides these minor irritants and being a bit buggy it is awesome. The fact that I can edit

Java (native)

JS jseclipse http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/jseclipse/ and aptana http://www.aptana.com/download_all.php

PHP, PHP Development Studio http://www.eclipseplugincentral.com/Web_Links-index-req-viewlink-cid-634.html

CSS Aptana http://www.aptana.com/download_all.php

(X)HTML Aptana and CFEclipes

And a ZILLION other languages http://www.eclipse.org/home/categories/languages.php

using the same FULL FEATURED, FREE IDE in of itself boggles the mind.

I never liked DW all that much. It is does have the agility of Fat Bastard in a tub of sludge. But for CSS and XHTML formatting and designing GUI's it is excellent.

As for HS / CF Studio, We all know that it is a masterpiece but it is getting old and does support all the things that we are having to use on a daily basis. It was truely a ssad day when they dropped it from their product line.....